Auxiliary toilet seat



Juy 38, w67 J. R. POTOSKY 3,33,085

AUXILIARY TOILET SEAT Filed Feb. lO, 1964 tates atent tice 3,331,085AUXILIARY TILET SEAT Joseph R. Potosky, 196 Caroline St., Derby, Conn.06418 Filed Feb. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 343,55() 6 Claims. (Cl. 4-242) I Thewell-known wooden or hard plastic toilet seat possesses a number ofdisadvantages which are wellknown to those in the medical profession.These disadvantages may be broken down into two major categories- (l)the problem of sanitation, particularly in public toilet areas, and (2)the actual creation or aggravation of physical ailments.

With respect to sanitation, infectious diseases may be easily spreadthrough the use of toilet seats in public rest room facilities. Thisproblem has been recognized by the owners of many such facilities whoprovide paper covers for persons using these seats. However, thispractice is far from widespread so that the average traveler is stillexposed to many instances of unsanitary toilet seats.

Of possibly even more importance than the problem of sanitation arethose created by the shape and hardness of the standard toilet seat.These seats are customarily made of hard Iwood or plastic and areslanted around the inner edge. This slanted portion presents a majorproblem, particularly when used by patients aiicted by medical problemsin the region of the gluteus muscles, the rectum, and the spinal coccyx.Jeep disease, cuts, burns, and infections in this region are ditiicultto heal under the best of conditions. When the standard toilet seat isused, however, the slanted portion of the seat tends to place an extremeamount of pressure on both sides of the gluteal region. This causes thebuttocks to be pulled apart, causing pressure to be placed on the rectalarea which aggravates existing medical problems in this region andcauses patients great distress and discomfort. In addition to theseproblems the hardness of the standard toilet seat causes particulardiscomfort to the aged. The discomfort caused to the elderly is oftenevidenced by deep pressure lines on the buttocks. Physicians often findit necessary to order massage to correct these undesirablecomplications.

To aid in the healing of rectal disorders, physicians often recommendthe use of inflated tubes or rings in order to alleviate the pressure.In many cases, however, these objects not only fail to alleviate theexisting problem, but even aggravate the condition. This is because theinner edge of these rings is curved, creating the same type of problemas discussed above with respect to the slanted inner edge of toiletseats.

Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide animproved auxiliary toilet seat. Other objects are to provide such a seatwhich is sanitary, soft, easily portable, and is properly shaped toavoid discomfort and aggravation of existing disorders in the posteriorregion.

The manner in which the above objects are achieved will be more apparentfrom the following description, the appended claims, and the figures ofthe attached drawing, wherein:

FIG. l is a plan view of an auxiliary toilet seat constructed inaccordance with this invention, partially cut away to show the internalconstruction;

FIG 2 is a bottom View of a portion of the seat of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross section taken along line 3-3 of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the toilet seat of this invention shown inposition for use;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hinged version of the toilet seat ofthis invention;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the toilet seat of FIG. 5 illustrating themanner in which the seat folds; and

FIG. 7 is a cross section taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 5 showing theconstruction of the hinge.

The objects of this invention are achieved by providing a light weightsoft auxiliary toilet seat which is sanitary and easily portable.

As is illustrated most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 3, the auxiliary seat S ofthis invention comprises a central stilfening core 10 which may beconstructed of any suitably stiff material such as fiber, plastic,metal, or wood. The stiffening core 10 is of generally horseshoe shapedconliguration to provide the basic dimensional stability required forthe finished seat. The stiffening core is further characterized by beingformed as to include a pair of spaced parallel raised ribs 10a, 10b. Avinyl foam cushion 12 is fitted over the top of the stilfening core 10and a similar cushion 14 is fitted over the bottom surface of thestiflcening core 10'. The cushions 12 and 14 are wider than thestiffening core 10 and these cushions are cemented together along theiroverlapping margins 16 to form a unitary assembly. As a final step informing the auxiliary seat, the entire assembly is coated with asuitable vinyl or latex lilm 18 which is moisture resistant and providesa smooth and easily cleaned surface.

The purpose of the ribs 10a, 1Gb will now be apparent from aconsideration of FIGS. 3 and 4 wherein the seat S of the invention isillustrated in position on a standard toilet seat T. The parallel spacedribs formed on the outer surface of the seat S by the corresponding ribs10a, 10b of the stiffening core will be seen to rest on either side ofthe crowned central region of the toilet seat T. They thus serve both toproperly position the seat S and to prevent its sliding or slipping fromone side to another.

Particular attention is directed to the fact that the inner edge 20 ofseat S may be constructed with a relatively straight side. This servesto alleviate the problems set forth above which may arise from the useof standard seats having slanted inner edges.

FIGS. .5, 6 and 7 illustrate a folding version of the seat of thisinvention. This modification is of particular value to travelers. Theconstruction is very similar to that of the seat described above.However, in place of a single stiffening core, a pair of half cores 22,24 are employed. A separate bottom cushion 26, 28 is fitted against eachhalf core and the two halves are interconnected by means of a single topcushion 30. The seat is coated with a suitable vinyl or latex coating ofthe type previously disclosed. It will thus be seen that the seat shownin FIGS. 5-7 consists of two stifeued halves S1', S2 joined by aflexible web W which serves as a hinge as shown in FIG. 6r. The portableseat S may thus be easily folded and placed Within a briefcase orsuitcase or even wrapped as a separate package. It will be noted thatwhen the seat S is folded, as shown in FIG. 6, it is of such a shapethat, when wrapped, no indication is given of the contents. In order toachieve maximum compactness, the foldable seat illustrated in FIGS. 5,6, and 7 does not employ the raised ribs described above. However, thesecould be provided if desired.

The cushions utilized with this invention are preferably fabricatedlfrom a closed cell sponge material such as rubber, synthetic rubber, ora foamed polymer such as polyvinylchloride foam. It will also beunderstood that the seat of the invention may be manufactured by otherprocesses than cutting and cementing the cushions into place. Forexample, a satisfactory seat may be molded to the desired shape in acuring press or oven, either being molded directly into place over thestifiening core or being cemented in a separate step as described.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a number ofvariations and modilications may be made in this invention withoutdeparting from its spirit and scope. Accordingly, it is to be understoodthat the foregoing description is illustrative only, rather thanlimiting. This invention is limited only by the scope of the followingclaims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An auxiliary toilet seat selectively positionable upon, and removablefrom, a standard crowned toilet seat comprising: a rigid curvedstiffening member; a curved foam cushion covering and substantiallyenclosing said stilening member; a moisture resistant coating on theouter surface of said cushion; and positioning means engageable oneither side of the crowned portion of said standard seat to retain saidauxiliary seat thereon.

2. The seat of claim 1 wherein the inner edge of said curved cushion issubstantially perpendicular to its top surface;

3. The seat of claim 1 wherein said stiiened is hinged about a centralline in its major plane.

4. The seat of claim 1 wherein said stiffening member includes first andsecond semi-annular portions, said foam cushion includes tirst andsecond cushion members enclosing, respectively, said rst and secondsemi-annular portions, and said seat further includes hinge meansinterconnecting said rst and second cushion members.

5. An auxiliary toilet seat comprising: a rigid curved stiiening memberhaving an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface definingspaced parallel ridges extending therefrom; a' curved foam cushionsubstancushion tially enclosing said stilfening member to form a padded,stilibened curved cushion shaped to substantially cover the uppersurface of a standard toilet seat, the lower surface of said cushion andsaid stiiiening member defining spaced curved parallel ridges arrangedto Contact the upper surface of a standard toilet seat, the inner edgeof said cushion being substantially perpendicular to its top surface;and a moisture resistant pliable coating on the outer surface of saidcushion.

6. An auxiliary toilet seat selectively positionable upon, and removablefrom, a standard crowned toilet seat, comprising: a rigid curvedstiiening member; a curved foam cushion covering said stiffening member;first and second spaced projections, dened by said stiffening member andsaid foam cushion, extending outwardly from the lower surface of theseat and arranged to be positioned on either side of thecrowned portionof said standard toilet seat; and a moisture resistant coating on theouter surface of said cushion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,871 9/1901 Hogan et al.1,015,741 1/1912 Parker 4--239 2,706,767 4/ 1955 Packchanian 4-242 X2,771,612 11/1956` Samuels 4-237 FOREIGN PATENTS 102,398 11/ 1937Australia. 262,023 12/ 1926 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner. H. I. GROSS, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN AUXILIARY TOILET SEAT SELECTIVELY POSITIONABLE UPON, AND REMOVABLEFROM, A STANDARD CROWNED TOILED SEAT COMPRISING: A RIGID CURVEDSTIFFENING MEMBER; A CURVED FOAM CUSHION COVERING AND SUBSTANTIALLYENCLOSING SAID STIFFENING MEMBER; A MOISTURE RESISTANT COATING ON THEOUTER SURFACE OF SAID CUSHION; AND POSITIONING MEANS ENGAGEABLE ONEITHER SIDE OF THE CROWNED PORTION OF SAID STANDARD SEAT TO RETAIN SAIDAUXILIARY SEAT THEREON.